The Comparison: Local or Virtual Carrier?

eSIMs have become THE practical, essential solution for traveling in the USA and North America. They are clearly gaining in popularity with travelers.
According to a study by Juniper Research (2023), more than 2 billion eSIM-compatible devices should be in circulation by 2025. Easy activation and no physical replacement of the Sim card make eSIM a preferred tool.
However, there are many different plans and operators to choose from. When you’re planning your trip, it can be hard to choose!
Find out more :
- a comparison of the best solutions ;
- and help you define your selection criteria.
Who are the best eSIM operators in the USA?
Carrier | Type | Highlights | Limitations |
---|---|---|---|
AT&T | Local | Good 4G or 5G coverage. | High price. |
T-Mobile | Local | Flexible plans, extensive 5G coverage. | May lack rural coverage. |
Verizon | Local | Excellent national and rural coverage. | High costs. |
Holafly | Virtual | Easy to activate, several data-only plans. | Possible latency, no local number. |
Ubigi | Virtual | Ease of use. | Limited data plans. |
Airalo | Virtual | Affordable plans for small budgets. | Higher latency. |
Truphone | Virtual | Easy to use in many countries. | Rates sometimes higher. |
Nomad | Virtual | Wide choice of plans and countries, quick activation. | No network priority. |
GigSky | Virtual | Available for many countries | Higher costs. |
RedTeaGo | Virtual | Economical plans. Quick activation. | Coverage limited to major cities. |
MTX Connect | Virtual | Competitive rates. Ideal for short trips. | Possible high latency. |
KeepGo | Virtual | Good country integration. | Limited data volume. |
Sim USA | Local dealer | Specialized for North America: good network coverage. Flexible plans. Easy activation. | Rates can be high. |
How do I choose an eSIM card for travel in the USA?
Local or virtual operator?
When you’re planning a trip abroad, you have two choices when it comes to telephony. Unless your plan has an international option, you’ll have :
- or a local operator: you buy a sim card on the spot and have direct connectivity to the American network.
This type of plan guarantees you a local IP address and therefore better latency. Local operators include AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.
- or a virtual operator: you order an eSIM from a company that uses partnerships with local networks.
It has no direct access, and the IP address is usually outside the USA. This can lead to higher latency and possibly reduced performance.

What is the quality of network coverage?
Local operators provide optimized coverage with network priority. Virtual operators depend on contracts with these same networks, which can affect stability and connection speed.
What are the limitations of the different plans?
There are different types of eSIM plans. As a general rule, virtual operators offer limited data plans. If you buy a data-only eSIM, you won’t be able to make calls or send SMS and MMS messages.
Local operators, on the other hand, usually offer unlimited access or plans with a high data limit.
If you want to call France from the USA, check your package information or roaming.
How do I choose an eSIM card for travel in the USA?
Type of stay
Depending on the length of your stay, you’ll find different plans.
In general, plans are available for 1, 2, 4 weeks or unlimited. Think about your data needs, too, to choose the most suitable options.
Network coverage
If you want to travel to the great American parks like Grand Canyon National Park, you’ll need optimum coverage in rural areas.
This type of network is best suited to plans with direct links to local operators.
Virtual operators with IPs outside the USA generally have poorer network coverage, which can lead to outages or latency.

Plans conditions
Some providers impose limits on their plans due to several constraints:
- Limiting data: virtual operators rent access to local networks. Each gigabyte of data consumed is expensive, so they limit data volume or impose daily quotas.
- Local agreements: Virtual providers need to negotiate partnerships with local operators. These agreements often include restrictions to ensure that local users remain a priority on the network. As a result, virtual operators limit services to avoid exceeding their contractual quotas.
These constraints explain why local operators offer more robust plans, but often at higher prices.
Supplier customer service
Local operators generally have a more accessible customer service on site in the event of technical problems.
Virtual operators offer you support even before you leave on your trip.
Potential problems with eSIM
Despite their many advantages, eSIMs can have a few drawbacks:
- Device compatibility: Not all smartphones support eSIM. Older models or certain brands do not support this technology. Please check your phone’s compatibility in advance.
- Limited customer support: Virtual operators, in particular, often offer customer support exclusively online or by email. In the event of a bug or technical problem, anticipate the responsiveness of after-sales service.

How do I travel to the USA with an eSIM?
- Choose your eSIM Compare options between local and virtual operators.
- Activate your eSIM before you leave if you’ve chosen a virtual provider: Follow the instructions provided by your provider.
- Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until you land to activate your card.
- Back up your data: make sure your contacts and other essential information are backed up in the cloud.
- Test connectivity: once in the USA, check the quality of your connection.
What other ways are there of staying connected on a trip to North America?
- Prepaid SIM cards local or virtual: a simple alternative for those who prefer a physical SIM.
- Portable WiFi Rent a WiFi hotspot for a stable connection.
- International roaming: Included in some packages (Orange, Free or SFR) but often expensive, limited in GB, and out of package possible.
The choice between a local or virtual eSIM depends on your needs in terms of coverage, connection quality and included services. Choose the solution that suits your trip and your budget.